LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE HEART 
OF THE GOLDEN ROAN 



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BY 



O. C. AURINGER 
u 

Author of 
"Scythe and Sword." 



-mn i89r 



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BOSTON 

D LOTHROP COMPANY 

WASHINGTON STREET OPPOSITE BROMFIEI-D 



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COPYRIGHT, 1891, 

IIT 

D. LOTHROP C;OMPANTo 



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CONTENTS 



I. 


THE LOVE CALL 


Page 
7 


II. 


A DREAM INTERLUDE 


19 


III. 


THE WAR-CALL 


28 


IV. 


THE CORE OF FIRE . 


39 


V. 


THE NIGHT RIDE 


47 


VI. 


PAUSE AND VISTA . 


56 


VII. 


THE PRICE 


65 


^m. 


TO THE BRIM . 


73 



THE HEART OF THE GOLDEN ROAN 



THE HEART 
OF THE GOLDEN ROAN 



I. 

THE LOVE-CALL. 



*'Oiir ship lies in the bay, 

She sails at break of day, 

I listen with dismay to the sea's lone sighing, 

sighing; 
My heart' s pride yields to fate, 
Come now, my love ! my mate ! 
Oh fly ere 'tis too late, liJie a dove to its own nest 

flying V 

This message came to me, 
With another, from the sea. 
By a courier riding free through inland 
town and village, 
7 



8 THE LOVE-CALL. 

Who left them at my gate 
As the hour was growing late, 
On that royal day of fate in the time of 
war's hot tillage. 

No leap of joy, no beam 
Of lovely fire, no gleam 
Of rapture, broke the dream of my heart's 

dull-flowing river ; 
So long had sorrow fed 
With bitter wine and bread 
The life which once had shed love like 

a royal giver. 

This, which by every word 
Would once my heart have stirred 
To singing like a bird by spring's sweet 
sounds delighted, 



THE LOVE-CALL. 9 

Now left me cold and pale, 
Encased in icy mail 

Of life's chill frost and hail, — a knight to 
sorrow knighted. 

I mused . " Thus love, alas ! 
Doth fade and fail and pass, 
Akin to flowers and orass, which winter's 

snows shall cover; 
So soon alike they lie, 
Concealed from heart and eye, 
And heed no bitter cry from late-repentant 

lover. 

" Thy ' heart's pride yields to fate,' 
Alas ! too late, too late ! 
What notes can love — or hate — in this 
waste soul set rincrino^? 



;r)"*o 



10 THE LOVE-CALL. 

A mountain cased in snow 
Keeps warm the fires below, — 
From a stream's heart frozen thro' issues 
no voice of singing. 

" The agony, the strife, 

The dull days cursed with life, 

The nights with anguish rife, and evil 

faces crowded, 
'Mid lands in deadly ban. 
Where forms of beast and man 
Are like grim fiends to scan, in fatal 

gloom enshrouded ; 

" The thought, the ceaseless pain, 
The fever of the brain. 
The tears, the gloom, the strain of bitter, 
blind emotion ; 



THE LOVE-CALL. II 

The world an open grave, 
Wherein the good and brave 
Sink as beneath the wave of an all-devour- 
ing ocean ; 

" The shapes that faintly flit 

Round altars dimly lit, 

In wastes for man unfit, forms hollow and 
unreal, 

That with grim joy amain 

Build on — a dusky fane, 

O'er many a brave hope slain, and fault- 
less fair ideal — 

" All these are gone, and I 
Look round without a sigh 
Upon an earth and sky of love's warm 
hues denuded ; 



12 THE LOVE-CALL, 

Serene and even flow 
My days; nor joy, nor woe, 
Disturbs me here below; so live 1 unde- 
luded. 

*' All cold ! — is this a nest 
Where love may soothe his breast, 
Warmed, fondled and caressed, charming 

and charmed forever ? 
I look, and I but see. 
Stretched out all barrenly. 
Life, like a frozen sea, with no sweet isle 

'soever. 

" Thou speak'st of wings — what wings ? 
AvQ these poor faded things 
Fit for the ether springs and shining tides 
of azure ? 



THE LOVE-CALL. 13 



Poor plumes ! Yet well I know 
They once were all aglow 
With heaven, and charmed to go like 
doves in search of treasure. 

" Ah ! couldst thou once have seen 

All that which should have been ! 

Then had our fields been green, our skies 
all bloom and splendor! 

As 'tis, I plod my way ; 

Thou goest — who can say 

Whether through March or May, by rug- 
ged paths or tender? 

" Who seeks the feast too late 
Finds closed the palace gate, 
And silence like a fate sitting beside as 
warder ; 



14 THE LOVE-CALL. 

Even could one enter there 
Some sfuest were in his chair, 
And naught but crumbs for fare reward 
untimely ardor. 

" What bird sings in my ear 

With notes so low and clear! 

What says he ? ' Cheer, cheer, cheer ! ' — 

thy last words as we parted. 
So thou hast left thy voice 
To creatures that rejoice, 
And have no sweeter choice than echo it 

glad-hearted. 

" I see on every side 
Thy image multiplied ; 
My w^ld brook wandering wide has kept 
thy murmured laughter; 



THE LOVE-CALL. 15 

The silent woods that crown 
The hills with autumn brown 
Keep yet the mystic trown that fell thy 
light moods after. 

" Night's lustrous curtains wear 

The shadow of thy hair; 

The sun and sunlit air repeat thy smiles 

and blushes; 
The deep blue heavens be 
Type of thy purity, 
Clear, calm, and endlessly stretched 

through mysterious hushes. 

" Thy spirit with high-born mien 
Walks through the night, its queen, 
Moving with pride serene through high 
and holy places ; 



i6 THE LOVE-CALL. 

Ah, love ! how may it be 
All things do keep for me 
These wonders that I see — thy glories 
and thy graces ? 

" Oh that I might abide 

Forever at thy side, 

And feel love's royal tide through my 

breast in strong floods flowing ! 
Love wonderful ! a fire 
Of boundless bliss, desire, 
A harp, a lute, a lyre — yea, all things 

deep and glowing ! 

" Ah love ! my love ! — say, why! — 
What hinders me that I 
Take not to wing and fly to thy breast 
like a swift dove flying ? 



THE LOVE-CALL. 17 



Who mocketh at me now ? 
Oh, fairy ! it is thou ! 

Love stolen again I trow to his nest long 
empty lying ! 

" Ay, he is there once more. 

Fair-eyed as e'er before, 

Delightful as of yore, to mock at death 

and sorrow; 
Now I believe it true 
Love dies not, but anew. 
Comes like the sun and dew with each 

triumphant morrow. 

" Sweet welcome ! be it so ! 
And ye, despair and woe. 
Sad twins, farewell ! we go where our 
heart's desire shall lead us — 



l8 THE LOVE-CALL. 

All gaily love and I 
Together forth will fly, 
Nor ask a hope more high, or a swifter 
wing to speed us ! " 



II. 

A DREAM INTERLUDE. 

I laughed, and idly laid 

My length within the shade 

An ancient poplar made beside my cot- 
tage gable, 

And let my vision run 

O'er webs by fancy spun, 

In isles beneath the sun, and lands em- 
balmed in fable. 

Methought beneath strange trees, 
In a paradise of seas, 

A bower of rest and ease beyond the 
world's disquiet, 
19 



20 A DREAM INTERLUDE. 

Where musky breezes haunt, 
And singing seas enchant, 
Whose warmth no winters daunt, or threat 
with boisterous riot, 

Ensconced with her I lay, 
Months, years — and all like May, 
Unvexed by waif or stray from life's vain 

fret and fever ; 
With ministrations sweet, 
And toil of happy feet. 
Serving as Love deems meet, when naught 

doth vex or grieve her. 

A lodge built wondrously 
Of marble, faced the sea, 
Flushed with divinity of Grecian light and 
glory 



A DREAM INTERLUDE. 21 

And looked with sunny smile 
On many a golden isle, 
And brooding mountain pile, enwreathed 
with song and story — 

Here dwelt we ; on calm days 
We pierced the forest's maze, 
To find by o'ergrown ways enchanted 

grove and grotto ; 
With yearnings half divine 
We heard the winds repine 
Round many a ruined shrine once 'graved 

with glorious motto. 

'Mid wilds of rugged hills, 
And solitude that fills 
The woody intervals 'twixt sea and silent 
mountains, 



22 A DREAM INTERLUDE. 

In awe and sacred truth 
We nursed our glorious youth 
With food of visioned sooth, and drink 
from charmed fountains. 

On many a peerless eve 

We heard the sea-wind weave 

Its harmonies that grieve round ruined 

wall and column ; 
And saw like clots of gold 
The marvelous stars unfold 
In glorious groups untold, from spaces 

hushed and solemn. 

Amid night's mystery, 
Arisen from the sea, 

Hero and deity walked through our silent 
dwelling; 



A DREAM INTERLUDE. 23 

At morn we knew from whence 
That atmosphere intense, 
That genial influence from all its cham- 
bers welling. 

This genial vision fled, 

Like cloud-forms lightly spread. 

And lo ! my thought was led to virgin 

wildernesses. 
Where, in an emerald zone 
Of ancient forests, shone 
A mystic lake, o'erstrewn with gems and 

•sunbeam kisses. 

By velvet bower and bank, - 
Made green with showers they drank, 
'Mid stately trees in rank, rose life's en- 
chanted palace, 



24 A DREAM INTERLUDE. 

Calm as a marble dream, 
Warmed by the yellow gleam 
Of orient light supreme poured from the 
sun's red chalice. 

Behind, a mountain proud, 

Beneath its crowning cloud. 

Shot down a torrent loud that fell with 

foam and thundered ; 
Then like an arrow shot 
Through haunted grove and grot, 
And many a flowery spot its cavern cleft 

and sundered. 

Some sunlit domes did lift 
Their forms amid the drift 
Of woods which winds did shift and roll 
in murmurous surges ; 



A DREAM INTERLUDE. 25 



Along the mimic sea 



Bright sails glanced sunnily, 

Then fled like clouds that flee when windy 



current urges. 



Within the palace door, 

Along each chamber floor, 

Walked Love, that evermore made blest 

the habitation ; 
And ever round her feet 
Rose incense pure and sweet. 
Like holy scents secrete in some divine 

oblation. 

Within its garden close 
Grew buds beside the rose, 
Shielded from wandering foes by fairy 
powers enchanted, 



26 A DREAM INTERLUDE. 

That let no blast or blight 
Steal one away by night, 
Or let on them alight one shade from 
regions haunted. 

Here life divine and good 

Flowed on, all storms withstood, 

In mutual holihood and strength of faith 

and feeling; — 
The thread so lightly spun 
Snapped as I saw the sun, 
His journey almost done, in clouds his 

face concealing. 

Then from my lips the cry 
Broke forth reproachfully, — 
" O wretched spendthrift ! why dream on 
in idle vision 



A DREAM INTERLUDE. 27 

While time with jealous feet 
Speeds on — ah, ne'er so fleet ! 
Up ! forth ! love's face to greet, thou 
stock for love's derision ! 

" Is there yet time ? — The place 
Lies leagues hence. — 'Twere a race 
For very life ! A pace like the wild wind's 

must speed me! 
Ho now, my golden roan ! 
Thou prince in blood and bone. 
Matched in the world by none, — come ! 

now indeed I need thee ! " 



III. 

THE WAR-CALL. 

"Our ship waits in the bay, 

At L.'awn we sail away 

lo the aid of a cause at hay, a land in peril 

lying; 
Speed hither while you may! 
Up ! — up ! nor stop nor stay ! — 
Oh haste to the holy fray with wings like an 

eagle' s flying ! " 



Keen shoots of feelino; came 
An instant through my frame, 
Like darts of ice and flame alternately 
succeeding, 



THE WAR-CALL. 29 

So alien was the thought 
This other message brought, 
So swift the cross it wrought to a heart on 
love-dreams feeding. 

Dropped idly to the sand 

The missive from my hand ; 

My spirit all unmanned broke forth in 
bitter railing — 

"Sweet comforter indeed, — 

In this my hour of need. 

Arrived with such hot speed, and prompti- 
tude unfailing ! 

" O mortal misery ! 
What have I done to thee, 
Dumb power ! to draw on me this deed of 
spite and malice? 



30 THE WAR-CALL. 

Wretch ! would no other hour 
Of all within thy power 
Suffice on me to shower the poison of thy 
chalice ? 

" No, but it must be this — 

Here on the eve of bliss 

To greet with icy hiss love's message long 

belated ! 
Oh, it was kind to wait 
Till my hand was on the gate, 
And the heart in my breast elate with 

rapture new created ! " 

I stilled with strong control 
The tumult of my soul, i 

Subdued the threatening roll of the pas- 
sions' stormy riot; 



THE WAR-CALL. 31 

A conquering impulse proud 
Stilled all their mouthings loud, 
Till they sank like lions cowed and quelled 
to sullen quiet. 

I gathered in my hand 

The message from the sand, 

And read with calm command again the 
warlike greeting : 

What Q-ulfs do oft divide 

Two missives side by side 

Borne on o'er distance wide, in the self- 
same haven meeting ! 

And slowly as I read 
Through all my frame was shed 
A warlike heat, that spread and waxed to 
ardent burning; 



32 THE WAR-CALL. 

And from the heart's profound 
Arose an ominous sound, 
As of a drowsing hound within his kennel 
turning. 

Some seed of warlike fire, 

Long sown in blood and ire 

By some forgotten sire in fields of arms 

redoubted, 
Warmed by a breath intense 
Of kindred influence. 
There stirred with wakening sense, and in 

the darkness sprouted. 

Then through my being rang 
War ! war ! with angry clang, 
Till imagination sprang on the bold theme 
elated ; 



THE WAR-CALL. 33 

And I saw before my eyes 
Heroic visions rise, 

Inflamed with ardent dyes, with tragic 
pomp inflated. 

A ship with ragged sail 

Drives on before the gale. 

By mists of spray and hail, and gathering 

night, beclouded. 
Within whose hollow frame 
Burns valor's conquering flam.e, — 
Courage no storms can tame, in its dim 

chambers crowded. 

In ribbed cabins sit 
Grim forms by lanterns lit, 
Whose shadows toss and flit o'er heaving 
rib and rafter; 



34 THE WAR-CALL. 

And round them heaped and hung, 
Arms ! arms ! whose metal tongue 
Rings sharp the echoes flung from warlike 
song and laughter. 

Swords, pistols, pikes, lie mixed 

With bayonets unfixed, 

Rifles in sheaves betwixt black cannon 

chained and muzzled ; 
Warlike accouterment 
In dusky spaces pent, 
With tangled cordage blent — confusion 

vexed and puzzled. I 

Then land we on the shore 
With white tents dotted o'er. 
Amid the smothered roar of hosts in cease- 
less motion ; 



THE WAR-CALL. 35 

Weapons that gleam and glance, 
War-steeds that neigh and prance, 
The pomp and circumstance — a never- 
resting ocean ; 

Midst banners blown on high, 

And pride in many an eye, 

The dream of victory and fame in song 

and story ; 
The sense of power that flows 
F'rom banded strength, and glows, 
Unseen but felt, and shows at length in 

deeds of glory. 

This fled. Before me passed 
War and the battle's blast ; 
I saw, like dead leaves cast, dead men 
around me lying; 



36 THE WAR-CALL. 

I heard the deadly peal 
Of sulphurous guns, saw reel 
Dim columns piked with steel, and hosts 
dismayed and flying. 

I felt the bitter ire 

Burn like infernal fire. 

The impulse, the desire to slay, within me 

glowing; 
I felt the maddened leap, 
The strong resistless sweep, 
O'er furrowed fields sown deep with seed 

of war's red sowing. 

And then I heard the cry 
Ring out, of victory — 
Wild peal on peal on high, yet solemn, of 
rejoicing; 



THE WAR-CALL. 37 

Sad, mournful as a dirge, 
I heard the sound emerge 
From scenes of earth, and surge to heaven, 
strange judgments voicing. 

Years seemed to pass : the bruit 

Of struggle now was mute, 

Briorht tracts of Q-rain and fruit o'erran the 

sunny region ; 
Men planted, plucked, and sat 
By vineyard-side and vat. 
In fields by blood made fat, and dust of 

moldered legion. 

The cause was won, and fame 
Now crowned the patriot's name. 
The soldier's wreath became the crown of 
love and honor; 



38 THE WAR-CALL. 

Who saw through years ahead 
A mighty nation spread 
To power august and dread through 
strength his deed had won her. 



IV. 

THE CORE OF FIRE. 

The sun had gone, but I 
Stayed on, as if some tie 
Forbidding me to fly constrained to idle 

vision ; 
But a step on the footway stone. 
And a quick neigh proudly blown, 
Dispersed like mists wind-strown my 

dreams with swift derision. 

You should have seen him there. 
My steed without compare ! 
That grace of mien, that air, no art could 
catch and render — 

39 



40 THE CORE OF FIRE. 

My famous golden roan ! 
As dear as flesh and bone 
Of my own body grown, through service 
long and tender, — 

Deep roan, from hoof to spine 

Shot o'er with Himmerins^ shine 

Of golden fire divine, that web-like glanced 

and shifted ; 
A golden wonder! Proud, 
With royal traits endowed. 
Fleet as a flying cloud, with strength 

divinely gifted! 

But eyes no more shall see 
That form so brave and free, 
His bones lie in the sea, and whiten 'neath 
the surgres, 



THE CORE OF FIRE. 41 

Slain in that last wild chase, 
That memorable race, 
Found in its niche and place where his- 
tory's light emerges. 

" Ay, thou art there ! " I cried, 

" My lovely one ! my pride ! 

With thy proud mien to chide for weak 

intent thy master. 
Thou dost not know what fate 
Locks me within the gate. 
How soul sinks desolate beneath some 

keen disaster. 

"Yet I must ride to-night 
A mighty race ! ere light 
The sea must be in sight, or woe indeed 
betide me ! 



42 THE CORE OF FIRE. 

But whither? to love's arms, 
Outstretched through all alarms, 
Or where war's fiery charms and duty's 
finger guide me ? " 

Then came that deadly strife, 

With fear and anguish rife, 

Which comes but once in life, to purge 

the soul or sear it ; 
That hour which leaves its trace 
Long years on heart and face, 
Destroys the form's fair grace, and pales 

the vital spirit. 

'Twas like a bath of fire 
Infernal, dismal, dire, — 
Wherein all hope, desire, all passion, doubt, 
denial, 



THE CORE OF FIRE. 43 

With youth's immortal dream, 
Faith, virtue, truth supreme — 
All that we are and seem, lay plunged in 
fiery trial. 

O torment past belief ! 

So terrible, though brief! 

Of mortal ills the chief, of pangs the crown 

and flower ; 
Oh, 'twas with feet blood-shod 
That interval I trod, 
That moment great with God, sublime with 

gloom and power. 

There Love plead like a queen 
With Duty stern of mien. 
With lingering Time between, impatient 
for decision ; 



44 THE CORE OF FIRE. 

And gathered fast by these 
All life's fierce energies, 
Wild for the soul's decrees, or passion's 
reign elysian. 

Fair days and length of life, 
With peace, and home, and wife. 
On one hand beckoned ; strife and war- 
pangs on the other. — 
" O dread necessity ! 
Swift, sure the choice must be ! " 
I cried in agony, " O wisdom, mighty 
mother ! 

" Say, whither shall I go ? — 
Oh for an hour to know 
What guidance thought can show, what 
counsel reason utter! 



THE CORE OF FIRE. 45 

No light ! — Then let the voice 
Most deep within have choice, 
So shall no fate rejoice, though many mow 
and mutter ! " 

From the soul's depths of flame 

Instant the answer came, 

With power that naught could maim, and 

purpose naught could humble. 
'Twas sealed — one sob replied 
From a proud hope denied, 
And the way lay clear and wide for feet 

no more to stumble. 

" Thanks ! End love's mission so ! 
War hath me ! — mount and go ! " 
I cried 'twixt joy and woe, with an impulse 
all-defying, 



46 THE CORE OF FIRE. 

An energy that bent 
All powers to Its intent, — 
That goal with distance blent beside the 
far sea lying. 



V. 

THE NIGHT RIDE. 

'Twas dark, when like a cloud 

On fire, with thunder loud 

Of tramping hoofs that plowed the valley 

sod beneath us, 
We launched into the night, 
Whose arms to left and rio^ht 
Spread to receive our flight, then closed, 

in gloom to sheathe us. 

The night had fallen fair. 
No cloud was in the air. 
But o'er my cheek and hair a breeze swept 
unabated ; 

47 



48 THE NIGHT RIDE. 

I scarcely thought or knew, 
So rapidly we flew, 

That 'twas no wind that blew save what 
our speed created. 

Soon through the eastern blue 

The moon sailed into view 

With face that frightened grew to see such 

fearless riding ; 
And at the sign of cheer 
I felt my spirit clear, 
And the waves of doubt and fear beneath 

her feet subsiding. 

So steadily, yet fleet ! 
The miles from under feet 
Reeled backward in retreat, and massed 
themselves in distance ; 



THE NIGHT RIDE. . 49 

The pine-plumes black in air 
Streamed past like witches' hair, 
The dark boles, lean and bare, seemed 
writhed in fierce resistance. 

Trees, dwellings, lights spun past, 

As if a frolic blast 

Had caught them up and cast them head- 
long in confusion ; 

I saw the fence-links start, 

With awkward arms apart, 

Right forth, then backward dart, as in 
some strange illusion. 

The steepled towns swam by. 
All still beneath the sky; 
I saw their spires gleam high, their win- 
dows wink and flicker ; 



50 THE NIGHT RIDE. 

I saw them charmed and bound 
By spectral shadows round, 
All overflowed and drowned in night's 
ethereal liquor. 

As one in dreams of night, 
In fancied plumes bedight, 
In ecstasy of flight swims the ethereal 

river. 
So I flew on my way, 
With spirit waxing gay 
As some glad bird in May thrilled with 

ecstatic quiver, 

Till I scarcely heard the beat 
Of my stallion's nimble feet, 
Or felt the touch of seat, or bridle-rein, or 
stirrup ; 



THE NIGHT RIDE. 5 I 

Saw not how onward bore, 
Swift — swifter evermore, 
My roan — blood to the core ! without a 
cheer or chirrup. 

Made drunk with joy I quaffed, 

Pricked by the airy shaft 

Of mirth, I sang and laughed till loud the 

shades resounded ; 
And then I laughed again 
To hear o'er hill and plain 
Some dull owl hoot amain, sore startled 

and confounded. 

So on our course we swept. 
Startling the things that slept, 
Or nightly waking kept in wood or road- 
side meadow. 



52 THE NIGHT RIDE. 

With a high heart of glee 
And buoyant energy 

Of spirit, fresh and free, miles, miles 
through light and shadow. 

But joy and mirth, alas ! 

Tread on a floor of glass 

Spun o'er a gulf where mass the rocks of 

toil and sorrow ; 
So with a start of pain 
I felt return again 
The thought, the care, the strain — the 

burden of the morrow, — 

The urgent care, the dread, 
The thought that yearned ahead 
Hot for the end, — all bred of that stern 
question pressing — 



THE NIGHT RIDE. 53 

Would there be time ? could feet 
Of horse, though ne'er so fleet, 
Make hour and distance meet? — all wild 
and hopeless guessing. 

The purpose strong at heart 
Still held itself apart 

Invincible, no art of soft appeal pre- 
vailing 
To move it from its throne. 
Where, desolate, alone. 
Committed to its own, it sat in strength 



unfaili 



mg. 



Whilst naught could this disarm, 
The brain had caught alarm 
From dread, foreboding harm, and doubt 
allied with reason, 



54 THE NIGHT RIDE. 

Lest failure and despair 
Should wait to greet us there 
With their dread " Too late ! " weak heir 
of an impotent season. 

Too late ! Distracting thought, 

With conscious evil fraught, 

That stung the soul o'erwrought to des- 
perate endeavor : 

" No ! no ! not so, my roan ! 

Our life's one hope is thrown 

On thee ! oh speed, my own, lest we be 
shamed forever ! " 

It seemed a heartless deed 

To urge my faithful steed 

To greater pace, whose speed already 

mocked at distance ; j 



THE NIGHT RIDE. 55 

And 'twere indeed my shame 
But for the voice that came, 
Stern, evermore the same, " On ! on ! " with 
fierce insistance. 



VI. 

PAUSE AND VISTA. 

At midnight, with our race 

Half done, we checked our pace 

In a secluded place, by hills and lowlands 

bounded ; 
Beside a bosky pool 
Outstretching dim and cool, 
By many a whispering school of reeds and 

grass surrounded. 

And here we stayed ; and here 
Unburdened of his gear, 
My steed found pleasant cheer 'mid spring- 
ing grass abundant; 
56 



PAUSE AND VISTA. 57 

But ere the pool he drank 
I cooled hot breast and flank 
With copious baths, till sank in calm their 
pulse redundant. 

And while he gladly fed, 

I paced with aimless tread 

By a rivulet that fed the pool with tiny 

clamor; 
Its voice, its twinkling smile, 
So bright and fresh, a while 
Wrought softly to beguile my soul with 

peaceful glamour. 

I looked about to see 
Like what the place might be 
Whose hospitality constrained our brief 
abiding. 



58 PAUSE AND VISTA. 

Yielding with pleasing art 
Fresh balm to soothe our smart, 
Refreshing brain and heart for still more 
dauntless riding. 

It seemed a spot designed — 

Made just for this. Behind 

Rose ruggedly defined the mountain's 

wild dominion, 
Savage and stern. Before, 
Stretched out like ocean's floor. 
Warm lands lay, brooded o'er by hope's 

unruffled pinion. 

A realm of calm between 
A rough and boisterous scene. 
And fruitful plains serene for freedom's 
heart made spacious, 



PAUSE AND VISTA. 59 

It seemed — a blest retreat 
For mountain-weary feet 
To rest in ere they fleet to scenes more 
mild and gracious. 

Was it an omen blest 

To cheer me on my quest ? 

I knew not, but I guessed some such a 

thought did cheer it. 
Methought from out the calm 
A voice of heavenly balm 
Breathed a victorious psalm across my 

wounded spirit. 

And then I turned my eyes 
Forth on the midnight skies — 
Deep — deep ! immensities of blue un- 
fathomed spaces, 



6o PAUSE AND VISTA. 

Planted with tribes of light, 
Wild, wonderful and bright, 
Far past thought's farthest flight, or fancy's 
airy chases ! 

" Peace, power, sublimity ! 

How glorious are ye 

To this dim sense which we in this dim 

world call seeing ! 
Hath not man's soul some sense 
Whereby to draw from thence 
Of your beneficence, to calm his fretful 

being? 

" Outcasts of fate, alone, 
Feeble, forlorn, unknown, 
We strive, and fret, and groan, scourged 
on by unseen master; 



PAUSE AND VISTA. 6i 

To your calm eyes how vain 
Must seem this toil and strain, 
This strife of loss and gain, submerged in 
dim disaster — 

" Worms in a pit of clay, 

Writhed in abhorrent fray 

Shot with a dull red ray of wandering fire 

uncertain ; 
Seen in their rage and slime 
A moment's space, till time 
Rolls on his course sublime, and veils 

them with a curtain. 

" False voice, be still ! Shall I 
That noble fire deny, 

That kindly light belie, which warms our 
common spirit ? 



62 PAUSE AND VISTA. 

No ! no ! Yet would I glean 
From this untroubled scene 
Something of peace serene to elevate and 
cheer it." 

And from that depth divine 

There did indeed forth shine 

On that awed heart of mine a gleam of 

warmth caressing; 
I thought how blest it were 
Had I some brother there, 
Some friend beloved, to share so deep and 

rich a blessing. 

And thus 'twixt stream and sky 
A fruitful hour went by. 
Till I severed with a sigh the moonbeam 
chain that bound me ; 



PAUSE AND VISTA. 63 

And turned in half despair 
To take again and wear 
The crown of toil and care wherewith the 
night had crowned me — 

Broke up the glowing trance 

To seize again the lance, 

And try the battle's chance, what destiny 

awaited ; 
But with serener soul, 
A mind in calm control. 
Yet a heart set on the goal with purpose 

unabated. 

'Twas but a thought to grace 
My stallion for the race, 
Throw riding-gear in place, seize rein, 
with toe in stirrup, 



64 PAUSE AND VISTA. 

And but one more to fling 
Myself in seat, and spring 
Forward like bird on wing, with cheerful 
word and chirrup. 



VII. 

THE PRICE. 

Behind in blue profound 

The moon hung full and round, 

Our shadows on the ground sped, as we 

sped, before us ; 
A breeze that sweetly blew 
From meadows rich with dew, 
And ever fresher grew, in grateful streams 

went o'er us. 

From thence unerringly 
The road made for the sea, — 
A highway broad and free for night-bound 
wight to travel ; 
6s 



66 THE PRICE. 

Unlike the one we left 
Behind us, cloven and cleft, 
And twined in mazy weft for patience to 
unravel. 

Patient as thought or fate, 

That haste not nor abate 

Their course, we kept that gait invincible, 

unaltered ; 
Steady as pulse of time. 
Hour after hour, the chime 
Of hoofs rang on in rhyme that never 

changed or faltered. 

Hours, leagues — then suddenly. 
From a hill's long shelter free, 
The long roar of the sea across my ear 
came pealing ; 



THE PRICE. ^'j 

And then I was aware 
Some change was in the air, 
And lo ! in the far east there the bud of 
dawn unsealing! 

And then, as on we sped, 
I rose and strained ahead 
On that sudden scene outspread, my heart 

wild tumult keeping; 
Yes, there at last it lay, 
Town, light-house, fleet and bay. 
Two level leagues away, in quiet moon- 
light sleeping. 

But two leao^ues off ! So nis^h ! 
My hope swelled proud and high, 
Yet I turned a careful eye to watch my 
stallion's paces. 



6S THE PRICE. 

And noted how his feet 
Had lost their rhythmic beat, 
His gait the steady heat that had won us 
those wide spaces. 

I leaned and in his ear 

Spoke words of praise and cheer, 

Called him the names most dear, with 

pride and courage blended ; 
Stroked quivering neck and hip, 
Besprayed with many a slip 
Of foam blown fierce from lip in fiery pain 

distended. 

" One more brave pull, my roan ! 
And the fio-ht is all our own ! 
Bear up, my bird ! and none from fame 
this deed shall sever ; 



K 



THE PRICE. 69 

For this thou shalt be found 
Through all the world renowned, 
Without a rival crowned hero and prince 
forever!" 

My words seemed to impart 

Fresh vigor to his heart, 

Re-arm the matchless art he held in proud 

possession ; 
And again the faithful feet 
Caught up their rhythmic beat, 
And bore it on complete with resolute 

expression. 

My thought now was, should we 
Ere daylight gain the sea, 
Even though our pace should be thus to 
the end unfailing, 



70 THE PRICE. 

For lo there ! in the east 
Broad hints of morn's rich feast 
Grew upward and increased, the stars' 
warm luster paling. 

Soon, with the race nis^h won, 

While eager fancy spun 

Triumphs that space outrun, my heart 

like joy-bells pealing. 
From my roan's proud breast a sigh 
Broke forth — a sobbing cry. 
And I felt in agony his frame beneath me 

reeling. 

Felt him a moment reel 
Unnerved, then spring like steel. 
With straining neck and heel, in that last 
grand endeavor ! 



THE PRICE. 71 

" Proud heart ! thou sufferest so ! " 
I cried, with tears of woe. 
" But one more strain, and lo ! the race is 
ours forever ! " 

Dawn shone o'er town and fleet, 

When through the seaport street 

A horse with staggering feet went reeling 

with its master; 
All hollow, ghastly, lank. 
With heaving chest and flank, 
And head that swayed and sank — a ghost 

of grim disaster, — 

Reeled on, blind, broken, blown, 
Till on the pier-head stone 
He paused, — then with a groan rolled 
over, spent and dying ; 



72 THE PRICE. 

Lay prone ; and like one slain, 
Conquered in nerve and brain 
By that long toil and strain, his master by 
him lying. 



Vlll. 

TO THE BRIM! 

I woke, alive with fears, 

And trembling nigh to tears, 

With the deep roar in my ears, tumultu- 
ous, of the ocean ; 

While ever under me 

The long heave of the sea 

Went on, as restlessly he rolled in billowy 
motion. 

I looked above, around — 
All one vast deep profound 
Of sky and sea! no bound to circumscribe 
the vision; 

73 



74 TO THE BRIM! 

And we with wings unfurled, 
Alone in that vast world, 
Drove through and clove the curled clear 
waves in proud derision. 

This scene, unfolding, bred 

Stern questions in my head. 

Mixed with a fear, a dread of some unkind 

disaster 
Befallen the hope I wore 
Deep in my bosom's core, 
That a changeling fate I bore, betrayed to 

luckless master. 

Which missive of the twain 
Sped yester from the main 
Had triumphed ? whose the gain, and 
whose the pain of losing.? 



TO THE BRIM! 75 

In that dim trance of mind, 
In that chance game, and blind, 
What fate had been assigned without my 
will or choosing? 

But whilst my weary brain 

Wrought in compulsive pain, 

Plagued by surmises vain and questions 

vague and vexing, 
Something that breathed of good 
Perfumed the neighborhood, 
Though dimly understood, and mixed with 

thoughts perplexing. 

Then conscious I became 
Some voice pronounced my name, — 
Oh warm with love's pure flame the sylla- 
bles came o'er me ! 



7^ TO THE BRIM! 

And I saw two eyes divine 
Look softly into mine, 
O'erbrimmed with lustrous shine, like 
love-springs oped before me. 

Soft hands caressed my hair 

With touch divinely rare. 

And in the silence there I felt warm arms 

close round me ; 
And like a bird in my ear 
A voice piped "Cheer! cheer! cheer! 
My love ! my mate ! my dear ! oh now 

indeed I've found thee! " 

I put the touch aside, 
The loving clasp untied. 
The tender lips denied that yearned with 
greeting kisses ; 



TO THE BRIM! ^^ 

Calm, sorrowful as fate, 
Put by the draught elate 
Of heart's warm love create, with all its 
promised blisses. 

"Alas! not now!" I said; 

" Too late thy missive sped, 

Another cause has wed, another service 

bound me; 
Behold my heart the same, 
Of love a living flame. 
But duty stern of name and purpose now 

has crowned me. 

" The heart sings loud of bliss, 
But the soul says more than this ; 
Sacred the spirit's kiss, inviolate for- 
ever ; 



78 TO THE BRIM! 

Oh love, believe me true ; 
Warm — warm, forever new. 
My heart holds firm that clew no time or 
change can sever ! 

"Warm, faithful! — yet must I 

Put love's sweet promise by, 

Although with bitter cry the heart bewail 

her treasure ; 
In war-stained skies above 
The eagle outsoars the dove. 
Till peace conspires with love to crown 

her empty measure. 

" Thy brave bright heart I know, 
What joys it would forego 
For this dear land's sake, so beset around 
by evil ; 



TO THE BRIM! 79 

By treacherous fate betrayed, 
Blind from the pathway strayed, 
I claim thy loyal aid to work a swift 
retrieval. 

" But tell me now, I pray, 

What means this grim array 

Of weapons formed to slay heaped round, 
- — pike, sword and rifle? 

What mean these warlike notes, 

Rung from heroic throats ? 

No love-lay, this, that dotes on some melo- 
dious trifle ! 

" Ah, dost thou laugh at me ? 
Why this strange mockery? 
Oh, now I wake and see, who have been 
blind and dreaming; 



8o TO THE BRIM! 

Witch ! I perceive the sign ! 
Fairy! some charm of thine 
Has wrought this work divine, disguised 
in artful seeming! 

" ' Love that can love forego 

Is first love crowned, I trow,' 

Runs not the old song so ? — Kiss — twine 

thy arms around me ! 
I chose for war; — with speed 
Love flies to crown the deed, 
And here behold my meed ; — both war 

and love have found me ! 

" Yes, now indeed I see 
How all sweet thinQ^s ao^ree 
To bless abundantly him who in right 
reposes ; 



TO THE BRIM! 8l 

How all kind fates conspire 
To yield his heart's desire, — 
Bathe sword in fairy fire and wreathe the 
shield with roses ! 

" Oh dull ! not to have guessed 

Those missives' one behest, — ' 

Doves from the self-same nest on the self- 
same errand fleeting; 

Ay, blind ! not to have seen 

What art lay couched between 

That call from love's fair queen, and her 
brother's warlike greeting. 

" Thanks, love, for thy bright deed, 
That showed my country's need, 
Put drooping hope to speed, and faith to 
fiery trial ; 



82 TO THE BRIM! 

And thanks to that high voice, 
In that dark hour of choice, 
That won me to rejoice in passion's stern 
denial ! 

" Mysterious as of yore, 

Oh lovely evermore ! 

The spirit's sacred lore, that blooms in 

deathless beauty ; 
See! here once more 'tis shown. 
All things do toil and groan 
To build for him a throne who keeps firm 

faith with duty ! " 



